Recent snows in the southwest mountains of Colorado have slowed Durango to a crawl, shutting down city offices and public schools.

But at least one man takes great pleasure in the snow: He manages the small in-town ski hill and ice rink owned by the city.

“I skied to work this morning, telemarking,” said 34-year-old Matt Morrissey, manager of Chapman Hill.

Snow that has been dumping in the mountains has spilled over onto the Eastern Plains, and the Denver metro area was expected to get up to 5 inches by morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Areas south and east of Denver, including Elbert County, should get the most snow out of the system along the metro corridor.

The weather service reported that mountain passes and highways are expected to be snowpacked and icy, with limited visibility from blowing snow. Motorists should limit travel in Colorado’s western mountains if possible, the service warned.

The San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado have been pummeled with snow in recent weeks, and up to 24 inches more is possible. Fort Lewis College, in Durango, was closed Monday and will be shut today because of the storm.

The Mile High Chapter of the American Red Cross has opened two shelters in southern Colorado — one in Del Norte, at New Life Fellowship Church, and the other at Guadalupe Elementary School in Antonito.

Stranded motorists are taking refuge there, according to the Red Cross, and volunteers are serving food and distributing blankets.

In Cortez, west of Durango, about 18 inches of snow covered city streets, and more is on the way.

“It’s just been snowing and snowing and snowing,” said Marcy Cummins, 57, executive director of the Cortez Area Chamber of Commerce.

Snow has piled up on the road to nearby Mesa Verde National Park, shutting down the park.

And although it’s made getting around difficult, Cummins said folks around Cortez, a high plains desert town, welcome moisture whenever they can get it.

“We are so excited to be getting this kind of moisture here,” she said. “When it snows like this, it means McPhee Reservoir will be full of water this summer. We’ll put up with anything to get the reservoir full.”

Kieran Nicholson covers breaking news for The Denver Post. He started at the Post in 1986, at the old building on 15th and California streets. Nicholson has covered a variety of beats including suburbs, courts, crime and general assignment.

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